Omaha daily bee., 1887-09-05
THE YELLOWSTONE PARK.
A Baltimorean's Visit to That Beautiful
Section.
SOME WONDERFUL FOUNTAINS
-"Oid Faithful'-A Mountain sHIsar
A Section Which Numbers Its
Hot Springs at 44O
"A Long Ride.


Union Pacific route, intending to 20 out
by the Northern Pacific. These two are
the only roads over which the tourist can
enter the park. the former bringing you
in from the north through Montana, the
latter from the west through Idaho. In
coming by the Northern Pacific a SIX
mile ride from the railroad station leads
from into the park to the Mammoth Hot
Springs, while the Union Pacific leaves
you where stage ride of ninety nine
miles Is necessary. AS consequence
fifty persons come in from the north to
one from the west. But with the desire
to know the me rits Of both route. we left
Ogden last Monday morning at II,
O'Clock for ride OF 2T2 miles over the
Utae Northern branch of the Union Pa
cific to Beaver Canon, where the stage
ride begins. Beaver Canon is little
Idaho village of 300 inhabitants ard we
did not much like leaving the train there
at the wretched hour of o clock at night.
There was but one train day, however,
and no help for 1t; but when the proprle.
tor OF the only public house in the place
told us that all his beds were occupied,
and that we would have to wait until 8
carry OH these occupants, we about came
to the conclusion that the life of the
Union Pacific traveller was not happy
one.
The next morning at nine O'Clock saw
us OFT for our two-days stage ride to the
park. The vehicle, a canvas covered
spring wagon, drawn by four horses, con.
tanned besides our party of two, the
driver and German gentleman and his
no IL
being literally supplied with bottled beer
for the Journey, and substituting empty
bottles for bread crumbs, one might of
thought they were following the example
of the little hero IN the fairy tale, who
mar ked his path as he went, 80 that he
might find his way back. The road lay
through Beaver canon, mild but pleas
ing type of her sterner Colorado breth-
rem out upon the Camas meadows, and
in full view of the distant Rock noun
tains, and through the fertile Antelope
valley, where the ground, at times, for
acres around. was covered with the
daintest and most lovely of wild flowers,
representing all the colors and shades of
a cultivated flower garden, with the
added charm Of being natures unasked
production. At clock in the evening
we reached little log house at Snake
River crossing, about half way to the
park, where the stages stop over night,
both going and coming. 1t would have
been difficult to select more picturesque
spot for halfway house. Only hun
dred feet away, the river-clear and
rapid-tiows directly in front of the
house, while the Continental divide of
the Rockies, seemingly only short way
of is clearly defined against the back
ground of sky, though fully twenty-five
miles away.
After supper OF mountain trout end
venlson we were soon abed, for an early
start was to be made the next morning.
The second days ride lay through
wilder county through piney woods
and valleys, where the mountains rose
high and old, with snow in their open
gulcheS. Sage hens were abundant, and
once we in full view Of a dozen antelope
running tleetly across our path not more
than three or four hundred yards distant.
Only three habitations did we pass in
the whole ride of ninety-nine miles, and
al the third of these we stopped for din
ner on this second day, and had the
pleasure req Of paying 81 for dinner pt an
of the Chesapeake defend US! Such
soup may do for Idaho, but it couldn't
pass muster in Maryland. A broken
wagon bolt delayed US awhile, and it was
8 O'clock when the lights Of the park
hotel at the lower geyser basin came in
sight. We were pleased with the long
ride, and found it very far from dull and
unnteresting; yet considering the amount
of riding one must do in the park, it is
same route. Indeed, the Yellowstone
park, in extent of territory, would make
a respectable eastern state. 1t is fifty
five miles wide from east to west, and
sixtytive miles long from north to south.
We had some thought at first of max
ing horseback journey to the various
points OF interest. but for several reasons
have substituted two-horse conveyance
instead, and, with our own driver, can
go where we will and at any time. This
is much to be preferred to the "regula.
ton round" the stages make, where they
whisk you around and out in very short
order. In the two days since our arrival
we have spent most Of the time at the
Upper Geyser basin, ten miles distant
from the Lower basin. The geysers are
for the most part grouped in basins, so
sions in the surrounding country, per-
haps three or four miles in extent, and
hedged about ty low ranges of noun.
tains or wooded hills. In this upper
basin are the largest and most famous
geysers and hot springs. The official
count places their number at 440, of
which twenty-six are known to he gey.
may count more than a score of waver.
| ing steam columns rising into the air,
and the whole area looks. IN the distance,
very much like the seat of a
busy manufacturing town, save
that the steam Is always milky
white. Sometimes the geyser opening
| is flush with the ground; sometimes the
mineral deposit has formed cone OF
| greater or less height and circumference.
For instance, "The Giantess'' has an il
regular, rather oval opening without a
raised rim, thirty-four feet long and
twenty-four feet at its greatest width,
| while 1.-The Castle" sends a continual
| thick column of steam from out crater
twelve or fourteen feet high and of large
circumference at its base. In some,
| when at rest, the water Is level with the
rim; in others. entirely sunk out of sight,
| leaving a naked, tortuous hole in the
ground. At least dozen of these geys-
| ers throw up column of water from SO
to 200 feet and more. the duration of the
| eruption being few minutes in some, q
few hours in others. Beside most Of the
geysers there is smaller pool OF water,
whose boiling tells of the approaching
eruption Of It's larger neighbor. and this
small pool is called the indicetor. There
| are different geysers. The Bee Hive" il